St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-06-04
AMONG THE CHURCHES.
Facts and Opinions on Matters OF Inter-
est in the Religious World.

A most interesting development OF the
principle of evangelical union in missionary
labor has been successfully in operation 1or ten
years in Japan. In June, 1877, the missionary
agents of three churches resolved to enter
heartily into an united effort in their mission
work, so as to secure the organization OF all lex-
| stng native churches under their respective
| care into one body. The three churches
| in question were the Reformed (Dutch)
| Church of America, the presbyterian
| North Church of America, and the
United Presbyterian Church of Scotland.
Two others have since joined in the movement
namely the Presbyterian Church (South) OF
America. and the Reformed (German) Church
or the United States. There is thus, at present.
a fivefold representation in the Union Churcf
of Christ in Japan, which is the name given to
the combined organization that has thus been
| brought into being.
The revision of the Westminster con-
| fession is contemplated by some of the leaders
of the Free Church of Scotland, and the opin-
ions expressed by some of the most Thought
full of the Presbyterian ministers are interest
| ing Professor Blaikie asserts his belief in the
| necessity of definite creed in a church. But
| while asserting to the confession, he IS none
the less persuaded that it is too long, too elab-
| crate and too minute to be imposed absolutely
in its every article and clause, all ministers,
| and that some relaxation ought to be allowed
| He would abridge the document and modify
| the existing formula of assent. While main
| tanning the necessity of creeds for church,
| he must own, however, that the Scrlpturai
| authority for creeds is extremely small, if it
| exists at all" DR.. Marcus DOds seems to think
| that mere revision would excite much ecclesl-
| aStical strife. and effect very little good.
| Now that the results of the past year
are becoming apparent in the year books of
| the several denominations, it is seen that the
| gains of the various Protestant Chuches of this
| country aggregate for the past year over half a
million members. The largest gains are in the
two branches of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, the North and SOUTH which ag
gregate 175.0O0. The Baptists come next in or
der. with an increase of 1901 900 members. Fol-
lowing are the Lutherans, with an increase OF
37.626, and then the Presbyterians with 27.;s26,
| and the Episcopalians, who report an increase
of 1854. The other denominations add largely
to these numbers.
The old gibe to the effect that it takes
dollar to get dime to the heathen does not
have facts to back it. In the administration OF
the Methodist Missionary Society out Of every
800 contributed S95 goes to the missions
direct So "A to incidental expenses"-that is,
interest and annuities, expenses of bishops in
visiting missions, insurance, exchange, ETC.;
81 35 to "otfice expenses"-that is, salaries tray
cling expenses, stationery, etc, after deduct
ing amounts received from rental of mission
building; ninety-one cents to disseminating
missionary information.
An enormous official-looking document
has arrived in England from Siberia, in which
number of convicts expressed, in touching
words. their faef hasa
portions of Scripture which the British Tract
Society had sent out to them AT the foot of
the neatly written letter long string of the
names of the convicts appeared. Some were
written in a firm, clear hand, many more family
and illegibly, while not a few of the con-
demned men had put the mark of theilliterate,
which seems to be X all the world over.
The Rev. II. U. Weitbrecht, C. M. S.
missionary at Batala, has issued pamphlet
on "Infidel Literature in India.'' It is stated
that native publishing firm in Lahore is dis
semlnating translations in different languages
of new European infidel publications from
Central India to the Afghan border. 10 some
extent this propaganda of unbelief and ag-
Mysticism has influenced Europeans; but it's
chief influence has been among natives, both
the English speaking class and those who un-
derstand the vernacular only.
The work of the American Bible So
ciety the past year has been large. According
to the annual report the cash receipts were
S493,35s, and the expenditures were S5A, ,49O.
During the year 1,675,e97 copies of the Scrip
lures were printed and purchased. The aggre-
gate circulation in foreign lands was 521 .356
copies. In seventy-one years the society has
issued 4s,324,916 copies, which have been dis
tributed in all parts of the world.
Il +
Christian work is moving forward in
the Hermit nation. A Bible committee, for the
translation of the Bible, has been formed
by the missionaries at Seoul. Several Coreans
have been baptized and others are studying
the Word. This at present, is done in
private way, because of the existing laws
against the introduction of Christianity.
The Christian Adeocate, the official
Methodist Church paper, publishes a document
OF John Wesley, in which he says :s.I believe
there is no liturgy in the world, either in
ancient or modern language, which breathes
more of solid, spiritual rational piety than
the Common Prayer of the Church of Eng
land
The women Of the Presbyterian Church
in this country are said to have raised in the
past sixteen years S2.1500OO for missions.
Couldn't Have Been His Wife.
HAS my wife been here?' asked
nervous man of clerk in a Fl arlam flrv-
goods store.
Tall woman?"
"Yes"
RED hair?"
YES"
"Cross-eyed?"